Women who are of childbearing age should start taking multivitamins regularly. This ensures that she is getting enough nutrients, especially folic acid. Folic acid can be found in multivitamins as well as in food. This is important because it can reduce the risk of neural tube defects that later develop into the baby’s brain and spinal cord, such as spina bifida. Studies have shown that healthy women who start taking multivitamins regularly before pregnancy also have a reduced risk of preeclampsia or toxemia. Toxemia is the condition where the blood pressure of the mother rises to a dangerous level and can prove fatal for the mother and the baby.
Our body does not get the necessary vitamins and minerals in the right quantity in the food we eat. A multivitamin will add those important nutrients to our diet. Taking a multivitamin during pregnancy and the first trimester will provide proper nutrition to the mother and baby and reduce the risk of malnutrition. Taking a multivitamin does not mean that you can eat a diet that is lacking in essential nutrients for your body.
Multivitamins are meant to be a supplement, not a sole source of these nutrients. Although women need to eat a lot of healthy foods before and during pregnancy, there are certain foods that a woman should stay away from once she becomes pregnant. Women should avoid soft, unpasteurized cheeses, unpasteurized milk, juice and apple cider, foods with raw eggs, raw or undercooked meat, fish with high levels of mercury, and processed meats.
In addition to taking a regular multivitamin, women should also start a weekly exercise routine. If your doctor says it is safe to do low-impact exercise during pregnancy, it has been shown to be extremely beneficial. Exercise during pregnancy can prevent excess weight gain; reduce back pain, swelling and other pregnancy related problems; improve sleep; increase energy; and reduce recovery time. If you had an active lifestyle before pregnancy, it is okay to continue, but in moderation. Most exercise is safe as long as you don’t overdo it. Safe exercises include swimming, walking, elliptical machines and other low-impact exercises.
Even though you should drink more fluids when you are pregnant, women should stay away from caffeine and especially alcohol. Water is the best way to get enough fluids. It is important to drink more water. It helps in flushing out the toxins from the body. It is advised that women should drink at least one gallon of water a day. Water helps prepare your body for all the changes it is going through and eases the discomfort you may feel. Studies have shown that if you drink more water, you will retain less water because you are properly hydrated. Drinking enough water helps keep the baby safe by keeping the amniotic sac moist. Preventing premature birth and reducing morning sickness are also included in the list of benefits of drinking water.
It is important for women to take care of their bodies before, during and after becoming pregnant.
Taking a multivitamin regularly before becoming pregnant will reduce your chances of delivering a premature baby. This will also reduce the chances of malnutrition. Pregnancy is one of those times when the body needs water. It transports nutrients from you to the baby. Make sure you take a multivitamin, exercise, and drink enough water to have a happy and healthy baby.
Source by Gerald Fitz
